NRL

Ryan Girdler Responds To Brad Fittler’s Criticism Of Ex-NSW Players In The Media

Ryan Girdler has responded to the comments of his former NSW Blues teammate and current Blues coach Brad Fittler, after Fittler’s comments following the third and final game of the 2023 State of Origin series on Wednesday.

The Blues coach hit out at ex-NSW players on Wednesday, referencing their criticism of the current Blues side and outfit, stating that support from ex-players should be ‘unequivocal’ and ‘shouldn’t be tested, but it is’.

On Triple M’s The Saturday Scrum, Ryan Girdler, James Graham, Brent Read and Tony Squires unpacked Fittler’s comments, with Girdler providing a response as an ex-NSW player and an ex-teammate of the Blues coach.

LISTEN TO THE DISCUSSION BELOW:

“It’s a fine line that we tread,” Girdler said.

“Regardless of what comes across in the media, or what we say as pundits, once we get to that game, I’m all in. I just want the best for New South Wales.

“As an ex-player and a pundit… you can just give a different perspective to something that mightn’t be able to be understood within the four walls.

“Obviously Freddy might’ve taken some of the things I’ve said over the last month in a negative fashion, but it was never meant to be negative.”

Graham added to Girdler’s response, stating that views on the Blues extend further than just ex-players and the media.

“The team selections, especially in Games II and III, did raise a lot of eyebrows, and it’d be wrong not to be speaking about them,” he said.

“These conversations were being had in the living rooms, in the WhatsApp groups, in the pubs, in the cafes all across NSW about, ‘what’s going on here?’.

“You can’t deny that these selections were going to cause debate.”

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